Just last month, the Suns were not sure which small forward to call upon.

Now, they can’t go without Marcus Morris or P.J. Tucker.

Friday’s overtime gut-punch from Brooklyn was not lost on account of Morris and Tucker.

Morris was nearly the star. In the final minute, he fought for a key rebound to set up a tying score. He defended Kevin Garnett in the post on a miss. He split Garnett and Paul Pierce to nearly get a follow for the win, just as his twin, Markieff, did at Portland two nights earlier.

Tucker became a stalwart defender last season, even if he did not gain much respect outside Phoenix for it. But it was his scoring Friday night that gave the Suns a chance to beat the Nets. He tallied 14 of the Suns’ final 23 points.

Like many Suns, each is seizing more opportunity by showing more in his game.

More Morris

So much attention was heaped on Markieff’s coming-out party that Marcus’ improvement got lost. At the same time, Marcus has turned steady, unlike the uneven outings that closed last season.

Over the past six games, Marcus Morris is averaging 10.7 points and 7.5 rebounds in 25.0 reserve minutes per game. He has proved flexible, playing power forward in a small lineup, and been big on the boards from either forward spot. Only starting center Miles Plumlee has more rebounds in that stretch.

“I haven’t played against a 3 that’s my size or bigger yet, so I’m hitting the glass,” said Marcus, a 6-foot-9, 235-pounder.

Nothing pleases the coaches like seeing Marcus’ defensive progress. Markieff has improved, too, but it is more significant for Marcus, whose ability to guard wings was questioned after playing power forward at Kansas.

“They’re reading what’s going on,” coach Jeff Hornacek said of the twins. “Both of those guys got their hands on a lot of balls and got a lot of deflections. That’s because they were anticipating things happening. I think, in the past, they didn’t do much of that.”

During Markieff’s career-best scoring stretch, Marcus felt his offense was near a breakthrough. He shot 48 percent over the past six games, crediting defense for finding his flow.

“I’m tired as hell chasing them around,” Morris said of small forwards. “I’m trying to start on defense because I know I can score. I know I can shoot. I know I can create a shot. That’s not my worry. My worry is to try to defend the best I can and let my offense come to me.”

The Tucker who won over Planet Orange last season with defensive grit and incessant hustle has layered his game with the same dedication on his shot. He is 12 of 22 on 3s to rank third in the NBA entering Monday’s games. Up until Friday, he had not left the corner for a 3. It is an improvement born from summer repetition with player-development assistants Corey Gaines and Irving Roland.

“We’d shoot until I couldn’t even shoot no more,” Tucker said. “I come in with Irv and Corey. The guys really pushed me, trying to get better. I feel like I can shoot it. It’s just the confidence and having the confidence in myself to step out and knock it down.”

Tucker was a confident scorer for years overseas but his shots are infrequent in the NBA, where he models himself after Suns villains Bruce Bowen and Mario Elie along with Memphis’ Tony Allen as a stopper who can score.

The hesitancy in making Tucker a starter last season was his perimeter shot. He made 31 percent of 3s, making it difficult to spread the floor. The staff encouraged more corner 3s.

“He was hesitant about shooting it,” Hornacek said. “I think he felt that maybe it’s not his best shot, that he’d rather drive it and get something inside. We harped on him in the summer and training camp. Up until a week and a half ago, there’s still the occasion where we say, ‘P.J., just shoot it.’ ”

Hornacek is the team shot doctor. With Tucker, he helped quicken and elevate his release.

It gives Suns fans a player for other teams to hate.

“It’s good to be on our side for once, right?” Tucker said.

Reach The Heat Index at 602-444-2470 or paul.coro@arizonarepublic.com. Follow Coro on Twitter at twitter.com/paulcoro

Up next

Suns at Kings

When: Tuesday at 8 p.m.

Where: Sleep Train Arena, Sacramento.

TV/radio: FSAZ, KTAR-AM (620).

Kings update: Sacramento is 2-7 despite playing only two road games. Since opening night, the Kings have won once — a Wednesday rout of Brooklyn. The Suns and Kings will play again Wednesday night in Phoenix. Sacramento ranks in the bottom seven for offensive and defensive field-goal percentage and rebounding percentage. DeMarcus Cousins averages 21.2 points and 9.4 rebounds but Isaiah Thomas is coming off the bench for 17.8 points per game. Rookie Ben McLemore is shooting 37.9 percent from the field.

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